I don’t know if anyone behind this creation has the nerve to take credit for it or use it in public, but its inspiration and production are the work of some of the members of Common Slaves. If you’d like one, drop me a line and I’ll see what I can do to get you one, along with a coupon for 15% off a psychiatric evaluation.

-jr
hjoecool@yahoo.com

A Spoonful of Sugar: Thoughts on Limited Atonement

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Heb. 2:16, ESV

It’s often said in Reformed circles that everyone is born Pelagian, and by extension Arminian. If that’s the default starting point, Reformed theology is something a person reaches over time, when he/she begin to understand that God doesn’t do things like I would do if I were God. This is an understanding that comes from, at least in my case and the case of many more like me, the study of the Scriptures first, and secondarily the refreshing discovery that we are not alone in our understanding of the Bible’s portrayal of the sovereign grace of God.

But admittedly, until the sweetness of these doctrines washes over like a mixture of refreshing wave and ocean tsunami, the doctrines of grace, as they’re called, or TULIP for short, can be a rather tough pill to swallow, especially to those who don’t understand them well. They seem to portray a God who seems rather unbothered by trampling all over the free will of man

O, if he would punish me for my sins, it would not wound my heart so deep to offend him;

But though I sin continually, he continually repeats his kindness to me.

At times I feel I could bear any suffering, but how can I dishonour this glorious God?

…Oh that I could give myself up to him, so as never more attempt to be my own! or have any will or affections that are not perfectly conformed to his will and his love!

But alas, I cannot live and not sin

– Valley of Vision

 

The audio from the Common Slaves August combined service has been uploaded to our YouTube channel, and you can find that under the Combined Service Sermons page.

We thank the more seasoned Godly men participating in this service, particularly Pastor Kevin, who introduces the confessional reading at the beginning of the audio and Pastor Randy Reed who brings the sermon.

The Messy Must

For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. -1 Corinthians 11:18-19

The church takes a lot of heat and often gains a rather poor reputation for her internal strife. After all, shouldn’t followers of Jesus be the most loving, kind, loyal, friendly, or, most of all, nice people in the world? It sure seems like it. Even the unbelieving world holds us to a higher standard of morality and loving our neighbor than they do themselves, and why shouldn’t they?